PROGRESS OF WAIPORI

Evening Star, Issue 18256, 21 April 1923, Page 1

PROGRESS OF WAIPORI

A SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISE. ‘Tho Progress of Wjiipori ’ was the i subject of a very interesting lecture delivered in the Art Gallery Hall last evening by Or J. D. Shacklock. Mr ,1. 11. Walker presided over a fairly largo audience. Tho Chairman briefly introduced the speaker. _Ho stated that he had worked with Cr Shacklock for many years, and be realised tho work that gentleman had done in connection with the Ci.cy Council, especially as regarded tho electric power and lighting department, It had been stated in the newspapers lately that the bulk of the work in connection with the City Council was done by the office staff; but ho know tho councillors very well, and ho 1 know that the amount of work Cr Shacklock had done in his department , would curry a remuneration of about £I,OOO a year in commercial life. Or Shacklock said that ho did not intend to burden his audience with a series of dry figures, or what might ho called an electioneering speech. Ho was among those councillors who had never boon afraid to como before their ' constituents and give an account of their stewardship when their term of office expired. Ho proposed to give briefly a few facts in connection with iho electric power and lighting departf ment. Tlie City Council had been ao- , 'cused of being non-progressive; but he proposed to show that it had not been nuprogressivo as far as this particular department was concerned. The enterprise at Waipori had been , started by a company, but before the j operations reached completion tho ven- | turo had been purchased by the City I Council. In tho early days of tho enterprise the people had boon very I doubtful as to what success it would { achieve; iu fact, there had been a time | when those who had been somewhat I enthusiastic about tho prospects at Waipori had to fight for every shilling they had to spend there, the scheme being looked upon ns a white elephant by a number of citizens and by the Press. If they had been guided by tho Press the result would have been somewhat disastrous. During the sixteen years the AVaipori scheme had been in operation they had seen it grow from really nothing until they had made a profit of £27,000 for tho year ended March 31 last. The load at tho beginning had been practically nothing; but the maximum load this winter had been as high as 7,250 kilowatts, which meant carrying an overload of 1,250 kilowatts. They had at present a capacity of about 24,000 h.p.; hut tho now machine, which was on order, and which they hoped would bo installed during tho winter, was capable of generating 3,000 h.p. This would increase tho output by 50 per cent., and would meet a long-felt want on the part of their customers. It had been impossible to buy machinery at a reasonable price during tho war, and they had boon compelled to hold their hand. Immediately after tho close of the war prices had been so high that it had been considered advisable to wait a little longer, and that delay had been justified by tho price at which they were able to jnirchase tho machinery. A largo amount of work had been donq in connection with the installation of tho new plant. The bulk of work at AVaipori was being carried out by day labor, and tbo supply of tho plant was being contracted for by various firms. Cr Shaddock maintained that the City Council had shown an attitude of progress right through tho piece. Ho was quite satisfied that the people were highly indebted to many councillors of tho past who had devoted their time and talents to the affairs of the city. (Applause.) Tho foundations had boon ”-cll and truly laid, and he thought die present councillors were carrying on tho heritage handed down to them. It would do the people good to see Dunedin from the viewpoint of.other people. Visitors were delighted with what had been done here in the way of municipal progress, and they were green with envy at what had been accomplished. In the course of a speech on municipal matters, Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., of Christchurch, who was looked upon as a representative of Labor, had said that ho favored municipal trading, and had also said that the city should supply itself with gas, electricity, etc. He had compared Christchurch with Dunedin,_ and had gone on to say that Dunedin seemed to have men in charge who were of a different typo from those who held office in Christchurch during tho last few years. Other cities liad gone ahead, but Christchurch seemed to recline in the doldrums. Between this and election day they might compare what Mr Howard had said with- what some of tho critics in Dunedin were iu the habit of saying. Continuing, Cr Shacklock said that during tho last two years the principal extensions to the reticulation from AVaipori hncl been those of tho Peninsula and Milton. Both had proved quite remunerative to the corporation, and had added to tho comfort of tho people iu those districts. Up to the present a minimum rate of 4s par month had been charged in tho country districts, but it was proposed to reduce that charge to 3s. Tho charge for motors driving milking machines in the country districts was to ho reduced, and this would induce the farmers to install machines. If they wished to increase Die prosperity of the town they must increase tho prosperity of the country. Tho AVaipori works were a monument to the energy and ability of tho corporation’s late electrical engineer, Mr Stark. In the early history of the enterprise ho was the only man in Dunedin who had had practical experience of any sort. It was because of his enthusiasm, energy, aud ability that lie was able to firo some of them with enthusiasm, thereby enabling them to bring tho venture to a successful issue. It was tho pioneer enterprise of its kind in the dominion. There was still a bright future before Waipori. Thera wore still people in the country districts asking for energy, such as Kaitangata, the freezing works near Balclutha, and the pipe works, and no doubt other districts would take the current if a power hoard was formed, enabling them to get the power at a reasonable rate from Waipori. The Citv Council had made good arrangements with the Government, which had, ho believed, signified its agreement to hand over the power to a power hoard. The properity of tho country would ho reflected m the prosperity of tho city. Tho lecture was illustrated by a largo number of fine lantern slides.